Dr. Rathore awarded national patient advocate of the year

Geetanjali Rathore, MD, associate professor in the division of neurology for the UNMC Department of Pediatrics, has been selected to receive the American Academy of Neurology Kenneth M. Viste Jr., MD, Patient Advocate of the Year Award.

Dr. Rathore is the first pediatric neurologist and the only neurologist from state of Nebraska to receive this award. The AAN recognizes Dr. Rathore’s work to pass legislation and create new treatments and facilities to improve the lives of her patients and families, noting that Dr. Rathore is “a tireless advocate at the state level and within her own hospital.”

A key component of Dr. Rathore’s role as an advocate is her leadership in state government lobbying efforts. She successfully piloted the effort to have Spinal Muscular Atrophy added to the Nebraska state newborn screening. The screening program already has identified babies with SMA who have then been treated within few days of birth and are developing as healthy infants.

Dr. Rathore also worked on the campaign to pass the “Seizure Safe Schools Bill,” which mandates that all approved or accredited public, private, denominational and parochial schools educate staff on how to administer or assist with the self-administration of seizure medication.

She has helped the parents of children affected with cytomegalovirus infections (congenital CMV) to advocate and testify in support of a legislative bill mandating education of expectant mothers about the risk and prevention of congenital CMV. She also partners with the congenital CMV foundation to raise awareness and recently published a podcast in which she talks to parents of children with congenital CVM.

Kim Widner, mother of a patient diagnosed with congenital CVM, said, “Through my daughter’s health journey, I have found it rare to meet a doctor who genuinely cares so about their patient’s health, treatment and future.”

Said Dr. Rathore, “I am extremely honored to receive this prestigious award and would like to thank the AAN selection committee for bestowing this honor upon me. I extend my deepest gratitude to the wonderful patients and families who inspire me to give my best every moment. I am also grateful to those who nominated me and to my family for their boundless support.”